Director Duilio Coletti’s 1960  Italian-American war film Under Ten Flags [Sotto Dieci Bandiere] stars Van Heflin, Charles Laughton, John Ericson, Mylène Demongeot, and Cecil Parker.
Under Ten Flags is an intriguing and involving Italian-made World War Two wartime action thriller about British vessels trying to stop Captain Bernhard Rogge (Heflin)’s German disguised raid ship that has being hounding Allied ships for two years.
The British would hardly have filmed this story, based on German diaries by Bernhard Rogge, and the movie is fascinating for being viewed from the German side and for the Nazi being cleverer than British admiral Russell (Laughton).
Back in 1960, it did not go down too well though, despite the strong real-life story, quality acting, costly and handsome-looking production and the busy action.
An ideally cast Heflin is excellent in a truthful, sterling performance and, by contrast, Laughton is entertainingly over-the-top.
After a long absence from screens, it appeared on British TV in February 2005.
Aldo Tonti’s photography is good but colour would have been nice.
Nino Rota’s score is an obvious asset.